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Show SOUTHERN UTAH NEWS Community Children suffer most dog bites By Kanab Post Office For every letter carrier bitten, hundreds of children needlessly suffer pain and trauma of dog bites. Whatever the reasons for them, dog bites are a serious problem for the entire community, not just our letter carriers trying to deliver your mail. Nationwide, Postal Service carriers suffered 2,795 dog bites last year (an average of nine dog attacks every delivery day), and that figure does not include the number of threatening incidents that did not result in injury. These numbers pale in comparison with the more than 2 million children who fall victim each year. If a letter carrier or other neighborhood worker needs to deliver a certified letter or a package to you, put your dog into a separate room before opening your front door. Dogs and emotionally. While delivering to a mailbox at the entrance to a customers home, the carrier watched in d horror as a dog Instincdoor. the front charged tively, he braced his foot against the door as the dog backed up to charge again. This time, the animal crashed through the door and tore plexiglass-plate- d into the flesh of his arm. It happened so quickly that he didnt have time to react," explains Bailey. The carrier, whom Bailey prefers not to identify, is still undergoing treatment. The animals bite so severely shredded his left arm that he has undergone several restorative surgeries and may never have full use of his arm, says 100-poun- Bailey. Nationally, the number of carriers bitten by dogs has dropped from more than 7,000 in 1983 to 2,795 in 1996. This have been known to burst is because of greater through screen doors or windows to get at delivery persons. Just ask Dover, DL, Postmaster Jack Bailey. One of his veteran letter carriers, who had survived eight vicious attacks durcareer, felt secure ing his in his ability to avoid dog bites. coopera- - 20 WEDNESDAY JUNE 4, 1997 'fee livery at an address if they are threatened by a vicious dog. In some instances, Postal Service employees have sued and collected damages for dog bite injuries. We cant control peoples dogs; only dog owners can do V N. that. While some attribute attacks on letter carriers to dogs inbred aversion to uniforms, experts say the psychology actually runs much deeper. Every day that a letter carrier comes into a dogs territory, the dog barks and the letter carrier leaves. Day after day the dog sees this action repeated. After a week or two, the dog appears to feel invincible against intruders. Once it gets loose, theres a good chance it will attack. When school lets out, dog owners should remind their children about the need to keep the family dog secured. We also recommend that parents ask their children not to y.V'-- j i at U II!) II , l plate-glas- s ...We cant control peoples dogs; only dog own- ers can do that.. tion from dog owners, stricter leash laws, and stepped-u- p efforts to educate letter carriers and the public about dealing with the problem. He owns four dogs himself. Unfortunately, our employees But, on Thursday, February still face dangerous incidents. Our carriers are vigilant, and 25, 1993, that carrier would be h scarred for we physically may choose to stop mail de 20-ye- ar life-bot- take mail directly from letter carriers. A dog may see handing mail to a child as a threatening gesture. These simple reminders and helpful tips can reduce the hazard of dog bite attacks. Help us to help you this spring and summer. Forever a Cowboy Scott Foster was in Kanab last week to attend Cowboy CiJb sponsor athletic banquet Foster was injured in a freak accident last winter and is showing incredible progress in his rehabilitation. ' Secondhand smokonotonly harmful to your ' ttil unborn baby WT FREE Rotation TEtc3 Auto & Light Trask Huge Selection! Great Prices! So. Utah Tire Center r , Not only can cigarette smoke harm your baby during pregnancy, but after your baby is boro, the smoke can cause your baby to have more colds. They may also softer more often from such health problems as ear, nose and threat infections, bronchitis,. asthmatic Attacks and pneumonia, When a baby is exposed to smoke, small quantities of nicotine, carbon monoxide and other substances in tha smoke pass into' the babys urine and saliva. V V' To protect your baby if be she is near smokers, follow the . following rulcx! ; -Never smoke cr lit friends or relative's hP a hold the ing, b&thir.j i.t f 4 , , asQ Free and Delivery Pick-u-p Road Hazard Protection Erafessiaagl Bra&g Sharks . Brake Lathe for Resurfacing Drums & Rotors Trained Brake Specialists FREE Brake Inspection . - iQBtasaTlEO 265 East 300 South Kanab 644-255- 7 mmmm rXXy. rit mmWUt by Ornm Mrtml AmkMm. g bib?: '"Never Uke acgtilVinto : rise krta sleeping. rhere tis bzbj'is ,Y 0 sist aao-eme- when you vi riirpubl: with your lei y. , ,PrvciJlc2Snp-- No pqfmM tar V--in- ; m quMyhi padiM Mo HM dM on quMylnf Srrtthx.it t , a xtrtrj ft fy f9UK' |
